China's battery storage runs away with the world: one month rivals a US year
Global grid-scale storage adds hit records into 2026 with China taking over half; the US trails by an order of magnitude
Summary
Grid-scale Battery Storage deployment hit records into 2026, and China is dominant. China commissioned 66.43GW/189.48GWh of new-type storage in 2025 (+52% power, +73% energy YoY) and installed 18GW/65GWh in December 2025 alone, more than the US added all year. The world added 275.3GWh in 2025 (+61%) and is set to add ~353GWh in 2026, with China expected to contribute ~203.5GWh and the US ~49GWh. In February 2026 China led with ~53% of global additions. China aims for cumulative installs equal to today's entire global capacity by 2027. The buildout soaks up Renewables curtailment and firms the grid.
By the numbers
- 66.43 GW / 189.48 GWh, China's 2025 new-type storage commissioned.
- 18 GW / 65 GWh, China's December 2025 installs (> full-year US).
- 275.3 GWh, global storage added in 2025 (+61% YoY).
- ~353 GWh, projected global additions in 2026.
- ~49 GWh vs ~203.5 GWh, projected 2026 US vs China additions.
Why it matters
Storage is the hinge that lets renewable-heavy grids shift midday solar into peak hours and cut curtailment. China's command of manufacturing and deployment compounds its battery and solar dominance, and widens a strategic gap as the US storage market grows but stays an order of magnitude smaller.
What to watch
- US deployment under shifting tariffs and tax-credit policy.
- China's progress toward its 2027 cumulative-capacity target.
- Whether storage materially cuts CAISO/Texas curtailment and negative prices.